2017 Charlotte...a year in review

kiley

kiley

Well-known member
I thought this would be the best time to do my year in review now that the holidays have finished and a new year has begun.
I had an amazing summer and visited some great places this year.
Charlotte and I began our relationship on May 14 2017 at 1:30pm est.
It was a pretty amazing start as I had to ride 605 miles (973km) to get to work.
I spent the night in Bedford PA and continued onto Claymont DE the next day.
First upgrade I did was install VH slip-ons and highway pegs
I still had to work in Delaware for a couple months before our project was complete.
I used this time to discover some great places in the area.
Delaware City, Rehoboth Beach, Ocean City MD, Lee’s Landing Port Deposit MD,
Susquehanna State Park, Union Hotel, Cape May NJ to name a few.
I also used this time to decide where I wanted to go after work was complete.
(I had trouble with my camera on my Blackberry...I eventually got it fixed :) )

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First trip…Maggie Valley NC for a week.
July 23
https://goo.gl/maps/hcXdDsojtUw

I left for Maggie Valley on a Sunday morning.
The highlight on the trip down was the fact that I81 had very little traffic.
I met up with some friends down there the next day and we checked out Bobarosa Saloon and The Rattler 209

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From there I spent a few days traveling the area and enjoying some local pulled pork.
After a few days of this it was time to carry on…off on my next adventure.

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I met this couple from Toronto...there first year on a BMW

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July 30
https://goo.gl/maps/2XBuebxfTan

Some friends of mine from back home and I had decided to do the Lake Superior Loop.
It took a few days to get up there but we all eventually met up in Sault Ste. Marie MI.
Highlights of the ride up would be staying at Houghton Lake and the wonderful ride along #119 Tunnel of Trees and of course crossing the Mackinaw Bridge.
We then spent a week going around the lake staying in Munising MI, Copper Harbor MI, Duluth MN, Thunder Bay ON, Sault Ste. Marie ON.
https://goo.gl/maps/L54pe6V8prw

A quick stop in Port Perry for a family visit and Ribfest then headed home.
I did a few local wkd trips with friends but it didn’t take long to be bored of the area and wanting to travel more.

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My next trip started with upstate NY then back to Delaware for a couple days.
https://goo.gl/maps/CeznH3sfMet
Bear Mountain is a wonderful ride and I am so glad I was able to do 7 Lakes Rd
Sept 15
I then made my way to Petersburg WV.

https://goo.gl/maps/pUeUuJDA5CS2


What a lovely area.
I made my way to south Pittsburg as I wanted to upgrade the audio in Charlotte.
I also had a great stop at Ohiopyle PA.
I then spent the night in Marietta OH.
It was here that I spent the night drinking a couple of Bud Lights and flipping a coin.
The next day I started out traveling the south Ohio area and then started making my way back down to Maggie Valley NC.
I spent the night in Beckley VA.
The next morning I wanted to take route #16 from Beckley to Troutdale.
What a crazy beautiful ride.
https://goo.gl/maps/grFkFgVeikK2

120 miles of bliss through some old mining country.
Took me about 4 hours to complete.
I then made a quick stop at Backbone Park then headed to Maggie Valley.
I arrived at A Holiday Motel only to run into a Victory Gathering lol.
Great group of people and we spent the wkd riding together.
On Sunday they were all packing up to head home but I had nowhere to go.
Sitting in front of the motel watching them all leave I soon realized I was going to be the only person around if I didn’t head out.
So I too packed up and started heading out.
I decided to try a new way home…I usually head to and from Maggie Valley via the Pittsburg way…I77-I79-I90
Today I thought Knoxville TN then I75 up to Detroit then home.
I didn’t get far out of Knoxville when construction took over I75
Rather than deal with this I shot over towards Charleston WV via route #63 - #58 - #23 - #119.
https://goo.gl/maps/WNa43mnaQdo

I am so glad I did this.
What a wonderful ride.
It was long but the weather was great and the scenery was even better.
Once I made it to Charleston I shot up to Morgantown WV and spent the night.
A quick stop at the dealer there and then I headed home.
A few weeks later I was ready for the next adventure

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Oct 05
I had heard about a Bike Night at the Stone House Inn just outside Uniontown PA.
I figured I could make it here in a day but rains came in about 4pm so I settled on Washington PA for the night.
I gave up on Bike Night and the next day settled for Cooper Rock State Park and a night in Bridgeport VA.
CRSP is a wonderful area and great for pictures.
Bridgeport was a little too busy for me but the accommodations where great.
The next day I rode up to Stone House so I could at least see it and had some fantastic bar-b-que.
I then headed up to Erie PA for the night then home the next day.

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Oct 13-14 a buddy of mine wanted to see some of PA so after Friday 13th in Port Dover we headed to Bradford PA.
Thick fog the next morning made for a wet ride but we still managed to see Kinzua Bridge and if your ever in the area it’s worth a stop.


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Oct 18 I figured this would be my last trip of the year.
The weather for the next week would be absolutely stunning.
Once again I made my way to Washington PA and spent the night.
I’m familiar with the area and the accommodations are great.
Checked out the local Tim Hortons that’s right across from the dealer.
Plans were made to see Cooper Rock again then head down to Fayetteville WV for Bridge Day.
https://goo.gl/maps/A3PfvUuWed82


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I also was able to stop at Babcock State Park and take some great pics of the mill.
The next morning I got up early and watched them setting everything up for Bridge Day.
I then headed out as I knew about 150,000 people were on their way to Fayetteville lol.
I made my way to…Hillbilly Hotdog.
https://goo.gl/maps/cuFNtQDNkhu

What a great place with so much to see and the food is great.
I then made my way up the Ohio River to Marietta and spent the night there.
I like Marietta…it’s a nice area…the rooms are great…they have a Tim Hortons…and I can be home in a day from here.

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The next morning I stopped in town along the river to clean up Charlotte and enjoy a coffee.
Then made my way home up along the Ohio River.
Had a quick stop in Meadville PA for lunch then headed home

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Review…
I love Charlotte.
She is by far the best thing I’ve added to my life.
I’m still learning lots about her and I’ll study a little more this winter about more things I can do with her in regards to radio and GPS and such.
Right now she has about 30,000km on her or 18600 miles.
I’ve done all the services she needs but it won’t be long before she needs new rubber lol
In comparison to my 2013…the bars are way better.
The seat seems to be about the same.
Highway pegs are way better
More power.
Way more comfort and way more tech with gps and sound.
Runs cooler.
She looks amazing…I get all kinds of comments on her color.
Whats next???
I’m trying to put together a trip to Mesa Arizona…have to sell our CAT 385 first.
I’ve met so many wonderful people over the course of these trips.
I love checking out some of the local grub.
One of my favorite shows is Drivers Drive Ins and Dives and I try to visit some of the featured places when I can.
feel free to fire away any questions...I dont bite :)

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I was lucky enough to get out for one last ride Nov 28


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Cool trips and nice ride.

Agreed, I just started riding last year and it was the best decision I made.

Curious was it by accident you met up with other riders/bikers. Or the areas you went are frequent by bikers?


Sent from my iPad using GTAMotorcycle.com
 
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